Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Frugal Valances: And A How Much Fabric Query

Even though I am a Plain Jane as far as window treatments go, I have for a while had a hankering for fabric covered valances. My mother has some, designed by the decor-guru Susan Heller, who suggested paint colors for me. They were SOOOOOOO expensive.

The hankering has returned. This is because I have some transoms in my living room that hit 10 feet. My three beautiful windows are nine feet. After I got some cheap but chic burlap curtains for the windows, I realized that I should have gone up to 10 feet to make an even line all around.

I explored curtain-lengthening options. ERGH. And, of course, I am a non-sewer. So my thoughts returned to valances that I could put over the top of the nine foot windows making a faux ten foot window!

Those valance boards are pricy, running around $150 EACH at Joann Fabrics.

Then I found this: DIY.
That's for a valance--or cornice--or pelmet--made of wood. There's also a genius DIY-er who has made some out of insulation board!

Mr. FS is--as always--eager to take on this project for me. How I dote on the fellow! He will make the boards. Miss Em--the only family member with fine motor skills and general handy-girl confidence--will help me figure out how to wrap with fabric. (SHHHHH. I haven't revealed this to her yet.)

Question to sewers of handy-people: how much fabric for a 12-16 inch valance with side pieces of about 5 inches? Joann Fabric says I need 3 yard each, but that seems like a lot.

Best book for this project is More Sewing for the Home, part of the Singer Sewing Reference Library, published in 1987 by Cy DeCosse Inc. If you can get that book, it has wonderfully clear illustrations on how to do this type of cornice.Cutting directions: For the face pieces, cut decorator fabric 6" wider than front plus sides, and the height of cornice plus 3". Cut a 4" inner lining strip from decorator fabric, the same width as the face piece. Cut a strip of lining fabric the same width as the face piece and the same height as the cornice.Cut a strip of batting or foam to cover the front and sides of the cornice. Assuming you need 19" depth (16", your maximum height plus 3"), and assuming your windows are less than 36" wide, you can cut crosswise and get one cornice plus lining strip out of , say , 27" of fabric. or 3/4 of a yard. That times 3 is 2 1/4 yards. But I would always buy some extra because you never know what you will need if you make a mistake. If your windows are more than 36" wide, you will have to either1. Cut lengthwise (called railroading the fabric). This works if your fabric is plain or an overall print with no direction. or2. put seams in to get the proper width. This is necessary if you have a one-way pattern like a stripe. If you have to do this, email me for more directions as I've already hijacked this post!If you railroad, you will need the equivalent of two lengths (cornice front width plus (2x5" for the sides) plus 6") because you can get only two cornices from each length. This assumes 54" fabric. For example, if your cornice is to be 42" wide, you would need 42 plus 10 plus 6=58" for one length. Two lengths would be 116" which in fabric stores translates to 3 1/4 yards. I would buy 3 1/2 or 4 for insurance.If this is unintelligible, email me atsimonskeir at att dot netand I will try to help further.Good luck.

I find the DIY project ugly. They look like crib bumpers, thick and clumsy. I hope you can create something better but still wonder about redoing the curtains to include a *deep* contrast band- say 1/3 the length of the curtain. Not a border, which would look tacked on.

And if you have your heart set on valences, of course follow that option and show us the results!

@SL--Back and verrrry tired. Window is 36 wide with about 8 inches (4 each side) in molding. Height of valance would be maybe 16 inches. Two side pieces--maybe 5??? You don't need to do the computations if it's timeconsuming. My gut is that the Joann requirement of 3 yds each is ridiculous. Fabric will be 54 wide--will probably use the Robert Allen Bali Batik that I have for pillows.

FS, I looked at the Bali Batik. It is directional and can't be railroaded. I think you will need to put seams in it. Are you sure you want to do this yourself? If so, I strongly recommend getting the book recommended above or a book from the library and reading the directions before buying or cutting fabric. I do think that three yards per window is excessive. You probably need two yards per window to be on the safe side.

FS, I really didn't mean to rain on your parade. BUT, there is a reason why window treatments cost money. It takes skill and experience to make them look fantastic, as I'm sure your Mother's treatments do. Many years ago I bought a custom-made curtain for my dining room and ready-made curtains for the living room. I had only one window in the dining room so I splurged. The difference between the custom and the ready-made curtains was enormous. Again, sorry. :(SL